This Thursday, February 21 at noon, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin hearings in Room 15 of the state Capitol on dangerous anti-gun measures that would infringe on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. This committee will also meet from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursday evening for public testimony on all firearm bills currently under consideration by this committee, and also on Friday, February 22 at noon where they will hear the majority of these anti-gun bills. While public testimony will only be taken on Thursday evening, it is important that you attend all hearings on these bills. Plan to arrive early on Thursday if you wish to testify, as sign-up begins at 3:00 p.m. and is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information on how to testify and to view a hearing schedule, please click here.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider many anti-gun bills on Thursday and Friday, but below are the most egregious:

Senate File 458, introduced by anti-gun state Senator Bobby Champion (DFL-59), would create new categories of “prohibited persons” for gun ownership and eliminate your right to keep and bear arms without due process. It would also criminalize private transfers of firearms with limited exceptions, impose new fees (taxes) for transfers and transferee permits, limit the ability of the carry permit to function as a transferee permit and create a possible thirty-day waiting period to verify an individual’s identity during the application process for a transferee permit.

Under the private transfer ban provisions of these bills, you will be forced to undergo a criminal investigation if you wish to purchase a firearm from certain family members, friends and co-workers. This system can only be enforced with gun registration. And, as we know from experiences in California, Australia and Canada, gun registration enables gun confiscation—only from honest citizens—since criminals are not subject to registration or submit to criminal investigations. It is perfectly clear that these bills are intended to criminalize and outlaw the private transfer of firearms between family members, hunting buddies, and co-workers.

Senate File 557, introduced by anti-gun state Senator Richard Cohen (D-64), would add discretionary provisions to transferee and carry permits. This bill is the Senate companion to HF 240, previously reported here. If passed, this legislation would require individuals to obtain what is essentially a "doctor's note" if the issuing officer believes - based only on undefined "past police contacts" - that the applicant is possibly dangerous or mentally ill. The issuing officer would not be required to use the professional evaluation of a medical professional to determine your eligibility for a permit - and could expand the application process indefinitely. In addition, these bills would weaken the appeals process for those denied a permit, and strengthen the ability for law enforcement officers to deny your right to carry by adding a long list of disqualifying factors to the application process. These bills would also ban the issuance of non-resident permits - making it more difficult for friends and family visiting the state of Minnesota to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Senate File 568, introduced by state Senator Richard Cohen (D-64), would make certain individuals' restoration of firearm rights more difficult. SF568 would weaken the permit to carry system by making it easier to deny law-abiding Minnesotans a permit and harder for applicants to appeal a permit denial. It would also remove the ability of applicants to recover the costs associated with appealing a denied or revoked permit.

Make no mistake, these are some of the worst gun control schemes that have been introduced nationwide and our Right to Keep and Bear Arms will be in serious jeopardy if gun owners in Minnesota do not act!

It is important that you attend these committee hearings and sign up to testify! Contactmembers of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and urge them to oppose these needless restrictions on your rights. Your voice makes a difference!

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Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.